Azaghvana E-Book 2003 - Flipbook - Page 391
dzum zugune. The fstaha ritual was in that sense the conclusion of the second stage of adult
initiation, the first step of successful sharing and redistribution. Its ongoing progress was
equally about the gaining of as much personal freedom as possible through individual wealth
creation for the long-term greater good.
Discussion of the third stage (ngwa yiye)
We have already mentioned that the ngwa yiye performed their fstaha near the dunghole
where the senior rainmaker planted the spear ruma in the ritual nzav ruma, meaning 'planting
the spear'. The dunghole allegedly existed from the first time dzum zugune was performed,
and the spear was planted there by the father and grandfather of Taɗa Nzige. 1 Plates 60a and
60b show what was left of the ritual dunghole near the senior rainmaker's house, and the rocks
as seats for the lineage elders of Ghwa'a, with Taɗa Nzige (with a beard) sitting to the left.
The dunghole was marked by a rock so it could be found, and it was opened up for me to be
photographed.
Plate 60a : Ritual dunghole
Plate 60b: Group of rock seats for lineage elders nearby
Taɗa Nzige gave us the following account on the rainmaker's role at this occasion:
The elders were sitting on the seats reserved for the representatives of the lineages Btha, Dzata,
Ngaladewe, Nighine, Gaske and Ɗagha.
For the start of dzum zugune they made a sacrifice at durghwe [the local mountain shrine] with a
bull. It was the thaghaya for all Dghweɗe lineages of Ghwa’a who was responsible for this
sacrifice. Only after that dzum zugune could start and the ngwa garda could run to Yawa. While
they were running to Yawa, the elders of the different lineages would have sat on their stones
enjoying the beer from jahurimbe. When they each came up as kwalanglanga, these elders would
ask: 'Who was the first person to reach Yawa, who was it?' Now the elders threw flour from
ground tiger nuts and guinea corn, which was subsequently done by the others.
After that, they did a sacrifice to ruma before planting it. This sacrifice consisted of a he-goat.
Now they brought out ruma and poured corn and tigernut flour over it. The elders had brought this
flour and the beer. Next, the rainmaker planted the spear. The spear was left in the dunghole for
three days but the elders would go home. After three days the spear was taken back in but a black
he-goat was sacrificed. The he-goat was black to indicate the green colour of vegetation.
1
The name Taɗa indicates that Taɗa Nzige was the seventh born and therefore he inherited the house.
We know that Viringwa Ruta's house, which was mentioned by our still practising Gharaza rainmaker
friend Ndruwe Dzguma, was not the same as Taɗa Nzige's house, despite the fact that he seemed to
have once owned the most ancient and powerful rainstone to grind clan medicine to increase the yield.
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